Sunday, June 9, 2013

Selo and Inya took the unfamiliar path, noticing it slowly ascended, winding through the woods. Selo noticed the trees in this region were tall and slender, almost like a bamboo forest. It was easy to see the space between them, thus provided a clear view for a great distance. It made sense to build a village out here; the sparse forest made it difficult for anyone to hide…except maybe at night.

Selo suddenly caught a whiff of a light fragrant smell. They’d reached a plateau where many trees had been cut down. In the clearing stood a vast vineyard surrounded by tall wooden gates. The scent of fresh fruit wafted over to them, making their stomach grumble.

“Of course!” Inya exclaimed. “Red Palm is known for its brewery, but not for the actual production of fruit. Since fruit can only be carried so far, it would make sense to plant vineyards nearby.”

“It’s beautiful,” Selo gasped. “It rivals the vineyard of Queen Ituti at her palace in Emseti.”

“It would,” Inya nodded, leading Umi along. “The people of Red Palm take wine very seriously.”

The vineyard was immaculate, as were the surrounding grounds. The grass was freshly cut, the weeds under strict control, and the women could see the carefully cultivated fruit was quite healthy, with large black grapes weighing down the vines.

“It would appear so,” Selo murmured. “Whoever cares for this vineyard is very meticulous.”

“They’d have to be,” Inya shrugged. “The brewery in Red Palm is highly selective; they have a six-hundred-year-old reputation to protect. A vineyard like this probably gets weekly inspections from their assigned sales representative at the brewery.”

They came round to the front of the vineyard where a giant wooden sign hung. Painted in black ink and in the common dialect were the words Black Grape Manor.

A few feet into the vineyard stood a strikingly handsome man tasting the grapes. He was a regal fellow, with sun-kissed light brown skin and long black hair hanging to his waist. He had a fine silken white cloth draped over one shoulder and around his hips, and he wore golden thong sandals.

As usual, Inya was more than happy to introduce herself.

“Excuse me,” she called, waving slightly. “Do you live here?”

The man turned to them, blinking in surprise. “Yes,” he nodded. He had a deep, warm and friendly voice. He gestured for them to come in. “You’re…not from the brewery.”

“No,” Inya shook her head. “We’re just passing through this country. I’m Inya, this is my traveling companion Selo, and this is Umi,” she nodded towards her donkey, who was already sniffing out the beautifully plump grapes.

“I am Ashvin,” the man lightly touched his bare chest, smiling broadly at them both. He reached to gently touch Umi’s head. “This is my vineyard. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

Selo was immediately uncomfortable in his presence. Then again, she was often uncomfortable in the presence of men; she still wasn’t used to dealing with them in a strictly social capacity. She’d only ever had one male lover and she’d been fraught with nervousness the whole time.

And there was something about this man…something about the warmth in his smile and the brightness in his deep, dark eyes which unsettled her.

“You’re travelers, you say?” he asked. He looked Inya over. “You must be from the lake country.”

“Correct,” she grinned.

“And you,” Ashvin murmured, looking at Selo as though awestruck, “you’re a warrior.”

“That’s correct,” she replied stiffly, tensing as his warm gaze rolled over her.

“You are not…from Soneti.”

“No. I am from Tiy.”

Ashvin’s pretty eyes widened. “Tiy? I have never met a woman from Tiy. The military exploits of your Queen are legend in my northern homeland.”

“I knew it,” Inya beamed. “You look like an Amalian. Which kingdom?”

“My brothers and I emigrated from Kingdom of Umala about two years ago,” Ashvin nodded. “As you may know, Umala is in the very heart of the desert. We couldn’t sustain a vineyard like this, so my brothers and I moved south.”

“Brothers?” Selo almost twitched. “There are more of you?”

“Oh, yes,” Ashvin chuckled, pointing towards the heart of the vineyard. “We’re in the middle of harvesting for the Festival tomorrow. Will you both attend?”

Ashvin had brothers, all right; several of them, in fact. They weren’t his actual kin, of course, but each matched him in flawless handsomeness. They all wore fine loincloths and sandals, showing off their sweaty muscular arms, broad chests and shoulders, and long legs. They all had long hair, with varying lengths; some tied it back, some let it hang free, but all were sweaty, with strands plastered against their faces.

Some were hauling giant baskets of grapes, others were climbing ladders, and some were taking a break to drink water.

“What is this place?” Selo blinked, suddenly having trouble breathing.

Ashvin raised a slightly confused brow. “This is a vineyard.”

Even Inya seemed to have trouble talking. “And…you all…just…live here?”

“In the center,” Ashvin nodded. “We have a very large manor.”

One weary worker poured a whole bowl of water over his head to cool down. Selo watched in growing horror as the silky rivulets slid down the man’s finely honed form, plastered his silky black hair against his body.

“What is this place?” she asked.

Ashvin was slow beginning to understand her reaction, and was deeply amused by it. “It’s my vineyard, Selo,” he patiently repeated. “I’m going to take a stab and guess that you don’t have much experience socializing with men, do you?”

The nomad merely shrugged, feasting both on grapes and the view. “He’s the one who gave her that golden thing around her neck.”

Selo’s head cocked to the side. “Inya here used to dance on table tops for money,” she fired back.

Inya furiously whirled on her. “How many times do I have to tell you it was just one time? It was amateur night at a drinking house. It’s not like I made career out of it!”

“I don’t know,” Selo raised a skeptical brow. She folded her arms across her chest. “According to Vathi, you move like someone who’s spent an awful lot of time on top of a table.”

Inya looked like she was about to burst a blood vessel. “I’ll have you know bounty hunters aren’t nearly as reliable as Vathi makes them out to be, Selo! You can’t even begin to imagine some of the things she’s probably done just to catch a fugitive off guard!”

Selo opened her mouth, no doubt to hurl another retort, but Ashvin smoothly stepped in to diffuse the situation.

“Ladies,” he calmly inquired, “where are you staying tonight?”

The question caught both women off guard. They seemed torn between answering him and getting back to their quarrel.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

I really want a new Selo & Inya adventure to be out every month on time without a hitch, but the fact of the matter is I wrote the first book while a on week-long vacation. Since then I've had to wrestle with the day job and then try to find the energy to write when I come home. Not an easy task.

So here's a peace offering for the delays you already know are coming. Picking up from where we left off with the prologue, I present the first chapter of Queen of Dust:

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

I am who am Matawai am Demon of the North. Queen of Antwari, Queen of Kuwari, I have taken a jewel of the mountains.

There will come a time when scholars will speak as though I were a sorceress, capable of turning dust into gold. They will say my name as though it means death and recount with horror the blood I’ve shed.

This is not new. I am a goddess of rumors and speculation. Listen in the marketplace; you will hear the frightened chatter. Sit in the temple halls, hear them whisper my name.

For I am the Goat Horn Queen of the mountains, forged from barren rock and brittle furs. I have redrawn the lines of Anseti, and now not even history dares deny me my fame.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

This is a fantastic book series that I highly recommend everyone get. For 4 dollars, you've got a nice, light read of about two hours that introduces the reader into a brand new world of fantasy that isn't the same old, tired, Tolkien-based stuff that litters the market these days.

The growing friendship between Inya and Selo is wonderful as each learns about the other and their bond deepens, and much like the 90s fantasy TV favourite, Xena, it keeps this relationship at its core while also expanding on the world it's in. People aren't who you think and even those who you've met before end up surprising you.

Friday, March 15, 2013

I am who am Matawai am Demon of the North. Queen of Antwari, Queen of Kuwari, I have taken a jewel of the mountains.

There will come a time when scholars will speak as though I were a sorceress, capable of turning dust into gold. They will say my name as though it means death and recount with horror the blood I’ve shed.

This is not new. I am a goddess of rumors and speculation. Listen in the marketplace; you will hear the frightened chatter. Sit in the temple halls, hear them whisper my name.

For I am the Goat Horn Queen of the mountains, forged from barren rock and brittle furs. I have redrawn the lines of Anseti, and now not even history dares deny me my name.

Yes, we are behind, but in our defense, March has been an exceedingly busy month in our personal lives. Which is why I give extra props to Julie; she's almost done with the cover for Book 3 while I'm still sorting out my thoughts.

Book 3 is going to be a bit more intense, which a heavy focus on the women of Antwari - Matawai, Kimmeka, Ammetwa (yes, she's back), and Onnoka. Selo and Inya will star as always, but this one's really for the Antwari ladies.

Monday, February 18, 2013

As the Creative Director of Middle Child Press and part of author Ankhesen Mié’s creative network, I had the good fortune of reading Selo & Inya: Lady of the Court shortly before it was published. This book is the beginning of a series depicting the adventures of Selo, a tall, regal woman warrior from the Queendom of Tiy, and Inya, a healer from the Kingdom of Oon Sati. Selo is thoughtful and serious and Inya is observant, blunt and hilarious. The pair makes for a good entertaining team.

Ankhesen has declared Selo & Inya to be a series of short stories to be published on a regular basis. Lady of the Court is an excellent foundation to what I know will be a delightful series of novels. In it, we are introduced to Selo, who must escort Queen’s Ituti’s daughter Abeti to the Kingdom of Oon Sati, an adjacent territory. Abeti is to be married to an Oon Sati prince so that an alliance can be formed and deter their common enemy, the Antwari, from attacking.

While journeying through the Kingdom of Oon Sati, Selo and Inya are invited to join the bounty hunter Vathi tracking a prince with a generous price on his head. As Selo learns about the laws of mixed society, the quest brings her face to face with the woman who almost killed her...and a thing or two she didn't know about Inya.

New Faces

Vathi ("vah-tee"): A fun-loving bounty hunter from the Queendom of Soneti, Vathi typically works alone. She's an old friend and sparring partner of Selo's.

Kimmeka ("kim-mek-kah"): The royal astrologer who serves Matawai. Her name means "full moon." She recently took over for a much older astrologer, and Matawai still doubts her ability. In Antwari, her kind are traditionally referred to as "Bone Singers."

Mero ("meh-ro"): The man Vathi's tracking. He's specifically been requested to be brought back alive.

Kuwari ("koo-wah-ree"): The Amalian kingdom is mentioned for a second time here; it lies beyond the northern Antwari border. Like Antwari, it is mountainous; unlike Antwari it is very fertile.

Fun Facts

1) The women on the covers are deliberately ambiguous. Artist Jules Nguyễn's intent is to let the viewer's imagination sort of roam. So if you like, then the woman on this cover can be the bounty hunter... or not.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

I'm excited by the emails I'm getting about Lady of the Court. However, I realize there are some things I need to clarify about that volume to avoid confusion.

1) Princess Abeti of Tiy is marrying Prince Iyuru of Oon Sati in a blood marriage. A blood marriage is conducted when two nations who have a common enemy (in this case, the Antwari), form an alliance against that common enemy. Though Queen Ituti of Tiy and King Miru of Oon Sati don't like each other (and we'll get to that later), they're not at war with each other.

2) The title of this volume (and of future volumes) will refer to a role within society. The stories will reflect Selo's (and in some cases, Inya's) briefly flirting with that role.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

As an avid fantasy fan who loves her warrior heroines (especially when they're of color), I didn't think there would ever be another contender for my all-time favorite warrior heroines outside of Tarma (from Mercedes Lackey's Vows or Honor series) or Dirisha Zuri (of Steve Perry's Matador series). Thanks to author Ankhesen Mié, I can add Selo to the list.

Selo comes from an all-female society warrior society (inspired by the Dahomey Amazons). Assigned to escort Princess Abeti to a rival kingdom in order to secure peace between two nations, Selo finds a vastly different world where feminine power lies not in the sword, but in the wielding of beauty. Like the proverbial misfit, she finds it difficult to adjust to life in a mixed society where women's roles are far more circumscribed. In order to be her princess’s Chief Attendant, she is given over for training to Inya the court herbalist.

Inya is that wise, matter-of-fact and no nonsense tutor that the bemused warrior woman needs in order to make sense of her new surroundings. They forge a deep friendship based on mutual respect and soon will begin a journey of adventure.

Granted, this is a short novella but does it pack a serious wallop and it made me eager for the next installment. Mié is a brilliant writer who brings her worlds and her characters to vibrant life. (Source)

Saturday, January 12, 2013

In the Beginning - if there indeed is such a thing as Beginning or End - there was Omet. She was black as the night sky, and without age. To her, the passing of a year was as the passing of day; indeed, her sight stretched beyond all space and time....

~ From the Book of the Twenty-Fourth Hour

It is said that the primordial goddess Omet once descended to a lonely island where she bore a circle of five children. These children would then create and govern the lives of all humankind.

Miyena ("mee-yeh-nah"), Protector of Human Flesh. This elder daughter of Omet is regarded all across Anseti as responsible for all things pertaining to human health, growth, and security. It is Miyena who protects the homeland from droughts, famines, plagues, and invaders. It is Miyena who protects the ill, the elderly, and pregnant women. In the Southern Queendoms, she's depicted as a warrior. Elsewhere, she's depicted as a nurturing mother. All herbalists defer to Miyena.

Diyen ("dee-yen"), Protector of Human Thought. This second daughter of Omet is the keeper of language, science, architecture, creativity, and exploration. Diyen protects humans from ignorance and stagnation; she drives away the poet's writer's block. It is Diyen who bars senility from poisoning an elder's mind. Her statue graces every university in Anseti; her bust sits in the studies of kings and queens. She is always depicted as a scholar, draped in demure robes.

Tayen ("tah-yen"), Protector of Human State. Widely regarded as "the politician's god", this third son of Omet is tasked with preserving law, order, and economic stability. It is Tayen who blesses commerce and allows societies to flourish. Many palaces, city gates, prison walls, court houses, and market banners bear his visage in some form or another. It is Tayen who prevents debt crises, market crashes, coup d'états, civil unrest, and assassinations from collapsing a society.

Onaya ("oh-nah-yah"), Protector of Human Conscience. This fourth son of Omet is tasked with recycling the souls of mortals who live flawed lives. By reincarnating them again and again, Onaya seeks to reveal the error of their ways. It is Onaya who bars the souls of murderers, rapists, thieves, and liars from poisoning the afterlife. His statue stands within many a prison, and all who sculpt him seek to capture his warm, benevolent countenance.

Umet ("oo-met"), Protector of Human Spirit. The fifth child of Omet is both her eldest and youngest; most notable is the fact Umet has no gender. Umet is simply "It", the Ideal, the Afterlife, the End (if there indeed is such a thing). Mortals who have lived good lives will die and become as formless and harmonious as Umet; they will be part of the stars and wind, the waters and clouds, the grass and the dawn. Umet declares all that exists has a purpose, a destiny, and all things are connected in flesh, mind, and spirit.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Lady of the Court introduces us to Selo, who is assigned to escort Princess Abeti ("ah-bet-tee") to the Kingdom of Oon Sati. Abeti is to marry the youngest son of King Miru, Prince Iyuru ("ee-yoo-roo"), in a "blood marriage," after her mother wins a weary battle against the Antwari.

Upon arrival at the southwestern city of Wala, Selo is sent to train with Inya, the court herbalist, in the arts of a Chief Attendant. Thus begins a friendship borne of unlikely circumstances, as Selo learns not only the troubling truth about mixed societies, but their royal houses as well.

Queen Matawai: Her name comes from the phrase matemawai ("mah-teh-mah-why"), meaning "goat horn woman". Though not born of royal blood, this Antwari Queen came to power by various ways, and now leads the siege against the nation of Tiy.

Ammetwa ("ah-met-twa"): Her name comes from the phrase amateyamawai ("ahm-mah-teh-yah-mah-why") meaning "black fur woman." She is Matawai's favored assassin.

Umi ("oo-mee"): Umi is Inya's beloved donkey who accompanies her on almost every journey. In Anseti, it is traditional for people name their donkeys, horses, etc. with names ending in "-mi", meaning "friend". "Umi" thus means "old friend."

Places of Interest

Wala ("wah-lah"): A great city in southwestern Oon Sati. It is ruled by Prince Iyuru, and is to be the new home of Princess Abeti.

Okoyi ("o-ko-yee"): A valley in northern Tiy, where the River Ai flows. The site of many battles between the Tiy and the Antwari, Okoyi is often believed to be resting place for the souls of warriors.

Onoti ("o-no-tee"): The northernmost village in Tiy, and the first line of defense against northern invades. Onoti is surrounded by high walls and armed with archers. No army has made it past Onoti in over a century.

The Three Queendoms are Tiy ("teey"), Soneti ("soh-net-tee"), and Kamati ("kah-mah-tee"), and are often called the Southern Queendoms.

Tiy is ruled by Queen Ituti II ("ee-too-tee"); its capital is Emseti ("em-set-tee") and its chief exports are horses, linen, amber, and gold. Tiy is often touted as the oldest of the Queendoms.

Soneti is ruled by Queen Bathia V ("bah-tee-yah"); its capital is Emmethi ("em-met-tee") and and its chief exports are wine, goats, palm oil, and various metals.

Kamati has the longest coastline of the Queendoms. From the capital city of Okhai ("o-kai"), it's ruled by Queen Ankara I ("ankh-kah-rah") and its chief exports are fish, olive oil, glass, and the highly coveted black clay.

Mid-Anseti

Antwari ("ahn-twa-ree") is a western nation based in the high, rocky Western Mountains. Ruled by Queen Matawai ("mah-tah-why"), the Antwari are a mixed society. Dubbed Aitawar ("eye-tah-wahr") or "the Goat People," they are a warrior society with no formal trading agreements, and have been known to raid and pillage other territories for resources. Matawai rules from the Royal Hall of Utuwa ("oo-too-wah").

Oon Sati ("oon-sah-tee") is a vast, wealthy mixed society ruled by King Miru ("mee-roo"). Its capital city is Uruma ("oo-roo-mah"), and its chief exports are silk, muslin, marble, blue clay, wine, silver, sheep, horses, wool, and sweet corn beer. Oon Sati has a diverse landscape, ranging from grasslands, to lake country, to its eastern coast.

Amalia

Amalia ("ah-mah-lee-yah"), also known as the Northern Territories, is the northernmost region of Anseti. It is primarily desert country, with some fertile valleys, mountains, and oases. Bordered by the Sea of Maliyu ("mah-lee-yoo"), it has the longest coastline of all the nations.

Amalia is a complex region; it has no single ruler and instead has several domains, each one ruled by a king or queen. The Amalian inability to get along is infamous across Anseti, which is why outsiders typically prefer to remain outside except in matters of commerce. The Amalian Nations all trade and export similar things - dates, nuts, red clay, gold, acacia wood, bath salts, desert flower oil, silk, muslin, linen, and glass.

Whenever the Amalians go to war with one another - and they do rather often - every other country remains neutral and has for the last thousand years. However, whenever an outside force invades a single Amalian domain, its own sister nations will remain neutral and watch it fall.

The Northern Islands

The Northern Islands are actually known by many names; some are simply directly, such as the Northern Isles or the Far North. Some are more colorful, such as the Glacial Islands, Glacial Cliffs, or the Frozen Queendom. Located far across the Sea of Maliyu, the islands experience snowfall all year round. Legend has it the incessant snow is an ancient curse.

The Isles of Antiyu (originally Atiyu)

The islands of the Antiyu ("ahn-tee-yoo") Sea are semi-mountainous and rich in gold. It's governed by a group of sea merchants and has no single leader.

The Isle of Omet

Omet ("oh-met") is home to a great temple and the legendary Oracle of Omet. The royal houses of Anseti regularly pay tribute to the temple at Omet, where a different person is chosen to channel the oracle every year.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Selo & Inya is an intended series of novelettes written by author Ankhesen Mié. The artwork is designed by Jules Nguyễn and the series is published by Middle Child Press. The series's title comes from its two female protagonists "Selo" and "Inya".

Who are Selo and Inya?

Selo ("see-low") is a young warrior woman from the Queendom of Tiy ("teey"). An orphan who's spent her whole life in an all-female society, her story begins with her foray into the Kingdom of Oon Sati ("oon-sah-tee"), a society of both men and women.

Inya ("in-yah") is Selo's traveling companion. Inya is a nomad and herbalist who was born and raised in Oon Sati. She is Selo's guide through mixed society, as well as her personal physician.

Where and when does Selo & Inya takes place?

Selo and Inya reside in a fictional world during ancient times. Author Mié has spent several years drafting different continents and cultures in this world, and has finally decided to combine them into one planet. The novelettes will focus primarily on the continent of Anseti and its surrounding islands, as well as the distant, frosty islands of the far North.

Why do we have Selo & Inya?

Growing up as a teenager in the 1990s, author Mié watched many shows with influential female leads (The X-Files, Xena: Warrior Princess, Alias, Dark Angel, The Net, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, etc.), but not many of these television shows focused on women of color. Since Mié cannot provide a television show, she offers regularly written novelettes instead meant to focus on the "Brown" girls, i.e. women of African, Asian, Polynesian, and Indigenous American descent.

The novelettes will focus on the strength, beauty, and character diversity of such women; readers can expect to meet queens, princesses, warriors, assassins, bounty hunters, tribal chiefs, oracles, priestesses, and more.

The novelettes are designed to be a short read, akin to watching a TV episode, and will be inexpensively priced, starting at $4.99.